BBC Scotland's Sandy Murray reports"Tyson has a record of violence outside the rules and outside the ring" real 28k

Saturday, 20 May, 2000, 09:58 GMT 10:58 UK

Tyson ticket hotline inundated

Frank Warren (left) clinched venue for Tyson fight

Officials at Scotland's national stadium said they have been inundated with ticket requests for Mike Tyson's controversial bout next month.

Hampden Park stadium in Glasgow was announced as the venue for the event on 24 June, despite heated protests because of the boxer's rape conviction.

Home Secretary, Jack Straw, who has granted Tyson entry to the United Kingdom, and the Scottish Football Association, which runs Hampden, have come in for fierce criticism from politicians and women's groups.

David Taylor: Made commercial decision

The fight promoter, Frank Warren, said 15,000 tickets have already been ordered and the SFA said that its switchboard had been inundated with calls.

SFA chief executive, David Taylor, said 90% of calls had been enquiries about the fight against Lou Savarese, adding that the decision to hold the fight at Hampden had been purely commercial.

He said the issue of whether the former world heavyweight champion, who was convicted of rape in the US in 1992, should be allowed into the country was for the home secretary to decide.

Mr Taylor said: "Hampden is operated as a commercial venture and this is a
commercial decision first and foremost.

"We are not going to impose our morals on others.

"I acknowledge there is considerable political and public debate over this and there is a democratic way for politicians to discuss this.

'Showpiece for city'

"But if the decision is made to let people come to this country, we as a commercial venture then have an interest.

"This event will be a showpiece for the stadium and a showpiece for the city of Glasgow."

He would not be drawn on ticket prices or on how much the stadium would be receiving to stage the event.

Hampden has applied to Glasgow City Council for a public entertainment licence covering 60,000 people for the fight.